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Agenda - 03-03-2009 - 6a
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Agenda - 03-03-2009 - 6a
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3/22/2016 12:17:33 PM
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3/4/2009 12:17:00 PM
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BOCC
Date
3/3/2009
Meeting Type
Regular Meeting
Document Type
Agenda
Agenda Item
6a
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Minutes - 20090303
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\Board of County Commissioners\Minutes - Approved\2000's\2009
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18 <br /> Challenges <br /> As the demand for service continues to grow,and the availability of volunteers to provide <br /> coverage in the fire districts declines,increased supplemental paid assistance to provide coverage <br /> during peak hours continues to emerge as a solution of choice. This method enables departments <br /> to cope with the growing demands. However,while individual departments provide for the <br /> hiring of personnel, disparities may arise between departments in the benefits and salaries <br /> provided. Many departments face financial constraints that preclude their taking on added <br /> responsibilities such as retirement and workers'compensation associated with employees. <br /> As Orange County continues to grow and face the challenges of tomorrow,it is imperative to <br /> improve on our abilities to provide the best emergency services to our overall community. We <br /> must collectively look beyond"the way we've always done it"and expand our capabilities <br /> across and between service districts to address the demands of a progressive public safety <br /> system. In several meetings I have had with the administrative and operational officers of some <br /> of the fire and rescue departments,some departments have been very receptive to the notion of <br /> an integrated approach to providing the best emergency services to County residents. Others <br /> have expressed understandable concerns about the potential that their agencies may play <br /> diminished roles in providing countywide services. <br /> With multiple agencies providing similar services(such as light vehicle extrication)in some <br /> cases,there are legitimate concerns about balancing the need for adequate amounts of readily <br /> available,widely deployed,specialty tools with the interest of ensuring that scarce tax dollars are <br /> not expended unnecessarily on duplication of services or equipment. I believe there is a clear <br /> need for a cooperative effort among volunteer agencies,the County,and municipal departments <br /> to determine a standard that would identify what tools and equipment should be purchased,by <br /> which departments, so as to ensure compatibility of equipment and training across agencies. <br /> In a recent conversation I had with the president of the Chiefs' Council,he identified the <br /> following as needs for volunteer agencies: <br /> 1) Face to face interaction with a representative of the Board of Commissioners; <br /> 2) A training facility in the central part of the County(I note here that House Bill 1655, <br /> sponsored by Representatives Faison, Hackney, and Insko has since been introduced and <br /> if approved, would earmark$1,344,000 to acquire land and construct a regional fire <br /> training facility in Orange County;) <br /> 3) Input in fire protection needs for future growth and subdivision development; <br /> 4) Additional fire marshal staff to assist with fire insurance ratings of the fire departments, <br /> granting, and County fire administrative issues; and <br /> 5) Representation from the Chiefs'Council on the communication upgrading project. <br /> Opportunities <br /> I have prepared a group of slides(provided separately as an attachment for this agenda item)that <br /> outlines some of the support that is currently available at the federal,state, and county level to <br /> assist our volunteer agencies stretch their resources. In recent years,County staff have tried to <br /> improve assistance to various fire and rescue agencies in areas of training coordination,incident <br /> reporting,and contracting and purchasing, among others. However,with the full participation <br /> and cooperation of the volunteer departments,there may be other things the County can do to <br /> assist the volunteer fire and rescue agencies to provide the best possible service in the most cost <br />
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